- April 3, 2025
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Alyssa Van Rapacki inspects the shelves with Ormond Beach Police Officer Brittney Battista during the fifth-annual Shop with a Cop on Saturday, Dec. 4. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Aydin Bennett hugs Ormond Beach Police Officer Danielle Henderson as he exits the Astro Skate bus. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Messiah Mosley and Officer Gregory Stokes are ready for the fifth-annual Shop with a Cop on Saturday, Dec. 4. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Ormond Beach Police Officer Richard Taylor and Johnathan Smiley brought their festive A-game to the fifth-annual Shop with a Cop on Saturday, Dec. 4. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Ormond Beach Police Chief Jesse Godfrey and Caliayh Smith share a smile at the fifth-annual Shop with a Cop on Saturday, Dec. 4. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Ormond Beach Police Officer Jessica Fowler and Jasmine Samokishyn head inside Walmart for the fifth-annual Shop with a Cop on Saturday, Dec. 4. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Ormond Beach Police Officer Tierra Taska heads inside Walmart with Kylie Mattson during the fifth-annual Shop with a Cop on Saturday, Dec. 4. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Ormond Beach Police Officer Robert Pearson was shopping with three children this year: Ashlynn, Orion and Manon Ryder. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Ormond Beach Police Sgt. John Dovine heads inside Walmart with Christian Moore for the fifth-annual Shop with a Cop on Saturday, Dec. 4. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Ormond Beach Police Sgt. Michael Garner and Alayah Elmore were all smiles as they headed inside Walmart for the fifth-annual Shop with a Cop on Saturday, Dec. 4. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Ormond Beach Police Sgt. Jay Brennan and Ariah Dean make a great team at the fifth-annual Shop with a Cop on Saturday, Dec. 4. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Marci Bialer picks out a camo helmet with Ormond Beach Police Evidence Crime Scene Supervisor Victoria Lancaster during the fifth-annual Shop with a Cop on Saturday, Dec. 4. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Ormond Beach Police Sgt. Jim Voegtle and Aurienna Green get their shopping done at the fifth-annual Shop with a Cop on Saturday, Dec. 4. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Ormond Beach Police Sgt. John Dovine and Christian Moore browse the shelves during the fifth-annual Shop with a Cop on Saturday, Dec. 4. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Ormond Beach Police Capt. Chris Roos and Aydin Bennett enjoy the fifth-annual Shop with a Cop on Saturday, Dec. 4. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Ormond Beach Police Officer Austin Long and Elijah Dotson get their shopping done at the fifth-annual Shop with a Cop on Saturday, Dec. 4. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Ormond Beach Police Officer Brandon Howard and Jessa Osborne stop for a photo during the fifth-annual Shop with a Cop on Saturday, Dec. 4. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Ormond Beach Police Officer Tierra Taska, Danielle Henderson and Kylie Mattson check out at the register during the fifth-annual Shop with a Cop on Saturday, Dec. 4. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Ormond Beach Police Explorers Akira McDuffie, Lily Daly, Taylor Elston, Diane Lancaster and Esperanza Bass mann the MRAP during the Grinch-busters Toy Drive held during the fifth-annual Shop with a Cop on Saturday, Dec. 4.
Ormond Beach Police Officer Richard Taylor seats Johnathan Smiley on his motorcycle at the fifth-annual Shop with a Cop on Saturday, Dec. 4. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
With shopping carts decorated with tinsel and balloons, and the Ormond Beach Police Department's giant Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle, lined the outside of the Walmart at 1521 W. Granada Blvd. on Saturday, Dec. 4, a juxtaposition of holiday cheer, shoppers exiting the supermarket stopped and stared, with some of the more curious onlookers asking what was about to transpire.
And when the pink Astro Skate bus arrived, preceded by several patrol vehicles and their sirens, the answer became clear: It was time for the fifth-annual Shop with a Cop.
Since 2017, the Ormond Beach Police Department has partnered with Walmart to provide local kids, chosen by their schools, with a special holiday shopping spree. Per a grant provided by Walmart, each child is provided with $100 to spend in the store. A total 25 children participated this year, and for Ormond Beach Police Chief Jesse Godfrey, every year marks a more rewarding experience than the last.
“Every kid I’ve had for the last five years has never once put themselves first," Godfrey said. "They always put their family members first, as far as what gift they’re going to give. This year was even more rewarding, because not only did this young lady that I had buy for her entire family, she actually thought of one of her teachers.”
The experience made Aydin Bennett, a fifth grader partnered with Capt. Chris Roos, feel special, said his grandmother Patty Black. Aydin had a tough year in 2020 with his family life, and while that has been resolved, she said, being able to see him have a positive experience with law enforcement made her emotional.
“I’m so proud," Black said. "Just getting him around law enforcement, the police officers, and seeing the police officers do good — because there’s so much bad out there, and that’s what they see, so to be involved in something like this with the positive attitudes, it’s wonderful.”
Walmart store manager Mark Rogers said the event is one of the best ways to reach local children and provide them with a positive law enforcement experience. This is the 15th year he's been part of the event, which has taken place at different stores he's worked at over the years.
“For the most part, it just takes people who care, and it’s something I believe is a great benefit of working for Walmart, because Walmart wants to do things for the community," he said.
Shop with a Cop is one of the ways OBPD works to connect with the community, and Godfrey said there's a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes. Each officer that participated volunteered for the assignment, and to him, that shows their dedication to the city.
“I’ve never seen it like this before," Godfrey said. "To include, we have the staffing shortages that we talked about, so for them to come out despite all that, again that moves me too — my own employees. I’m very proud of them, and I’m moved by what they do and how they represent the city and the department.”
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